Home · 2013 Dodge Avenger · Complaints

What 547 owners told NHTSA about the 2013 Dodge Avenger

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (547)Crash / fire / injury (46)Airbags (154)Engine (120)Electrical system (98)Seats (59)Seat belts (52)Visibility & wipers (51)Brakes (38)Speed control (34)Transmission & drivetrain (32)Fuel system (29)

154 of 547 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters · page 1 of 7

Dec 1, 2025AirbagsSeats

Both head rest which is attached to airbags or have airbags in them I don’t know but the exploded open. Headrest could have exploded while someone was in the seat and got head injuries. No problem has not been confirmed by anyone but myself,husband and self employed mechanic, I didn’t know what to do. No, no type of warning before it happen. Passenger one exploded January 2025, driver exploded about May 2025.

NHTSA ODI 11702196

Oct 20, 2025Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsEngine

Powertrain fail , airbag failed to deploy

NHTSA ODI 11694624

Nov 8, 2024Electrical systemAirbags

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the warning lights on the instrument panel flashed on and off. The contact stated that the horn was inadvertently honked while the vehicle was losing motive power. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 13V282000 (Electrical System, Air Bags); and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 123,000.

NHTSA ODI 11624283

Oct 7, 2024AirbagsSeats

I was driving my car and the active headrests on the driver side and passenger side both deployed prematurely. I wasn't in any collisions and the headrests deployed. It was very unexpected when they went off as i was driving to school it put both my safety and my sisters safety at risk when they deployed. As stated previously i am unsure as to why they went off as i was never involved in any collisions. There were no warning lamps or any messages prior to them deploying.

NHTSA ODI 11618401

Sep 6, 2024Electrical systemAirbagsFuel system

The TIPM failed causing the car to shut off and not start again. The problem has been confirmed by Upstate Auto. There was a recall on the TIPM but it was not replaced instead some occupant restraints were replaced instead and now the manufacturer does not make the TIPM part anymore.

NHTSA ODI 11613149

Sep 8, 2023AirbagsSeats

The headrest in front passenger side made a loud noise and opened. It's scared me, because I had no clue what the noise was from at the time. It was night time and all I can say is thank God no other cars were near me...I probably would have wrecked. I'm very thankful that my son was not sitting there when it happened. There were no lights or warnings and I never knew that could happen let alone know the headrests could pop open. The vehicle has not been looked at our inspected. I seen there was a recall on this but after entering my Vin, it says this car has no active recalls.

NHTSA ODI 11543514

Dec 30, 2022AirbagsBrakesEngine

My husband a I were driving down the highway and all of a sudden a loud sound a bam the air bag in the passenger seat blew open and dang near gave my husband whiplash. Also I have had the thermostat replaced 3 times in 2 years and the car is still overheating. The ABS sensor will not go off and its like the emergency brake is stuck. I can be driving and when I try to stop it is like its locking up.

NHTSA ODI 11499479

Oct 26, 2022AirbagsSeats1 injury

The contact owns a 2013 Dodge Avenger. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the driver seat headrest restraint was erroneously deployed. The contact indicated that during the incident the vehicle had not crashed or abruptly stopped to cause the headrest restraint to deploy. During the incident, the contact sustained an injured neck. No medical treatment was required. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 133,000.

NHTSA ODI 11491028

Mar 25, 2022Airbags

3/24/2022, Mileage 102742. Airbag light intermittently turns on and off.

NHTSA ODI 11458343

Oct 4, 2021Airbags

Purchased this car 3 yrs a go about 2 weeks ago the airbag light remains on constantly the car was parked but remains on constantly. The car has 107K I search for recall on this site and nothing even though there are over 485 complaints for the same issue. What does it take to get this NOTICED by MOPAR this is obviously a safety hazard. I bet if one of MOPAR's dependents was driving a 2013 Dodge Avenger they would get it fixed TODAY for free via a recall are you listening MOPAR??? I am sure you read these complaints. I will contact a Chrysler dealer in the area and see if they will do the right thing and fix this safety issue for free but after reading all these complaints looks like a losing battle. MOPAR is you want to have customers buy your cars do the right thing a get a recall out on this airbag issue.

NHTSA ODI 11435371

Jun 14, 2021Airbags

The air bag light turns on and off while driving, along with a ding, indicating that there is a problem with the air bag.

NHTSA ODI 11420799

Apr 30, 2021AirbagsSeat beltsCrash1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2013 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AT 10 MPH, THE DRIVER BEHIND HER WAS ON A CELL PHONE AND REAR ENDED HER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN HER AND THE CONTACT HIT HER HEAD ON THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW. THE AIR BAGS ALSO FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT DID NOT RECEIVE MEDICAL ATTENTION; HOWEVER, SHE STATED THAT SHE DID HAVE PAIN TO HER LOWER SPINE, NECK, AND LEFT SIDE OF HER HEAD. THE OTHER DRIVER DID NOT SUSTAIN INJURIES. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE; HOWEVER, THEY NEVER SHOWED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE GAVE HER INFORMATION TO THE DISPATCHER; BUT WAS UNCERTAIN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS LATER DESTROYED. THE CONTACT ALSO WENT TO NYLE MAXWELL CDJR OF AUSTIN(13401 RANCH RD 620 N, AUSTIN, TX 78717) WHERE THEY DISCOVERED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS PLACED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER:16V668000( SEAT BELTS, AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE DEALER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 23,000.

NHTSA ODI 11414634

Mar 31, 2021Airbags

WHEN I START MY CAR WHICH IS STATIONARY THE AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON & DINGS (LIKE THE SEATBELT WARNING) IT DINGS LIKE 2 TIMES. THEN AS I DRIVE ON CITY STREETS & HIGHWAYS, WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE LIGHT WILL COME ON & GO OFF RANDOMLY. THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY OR IN MOTION, HOWEVER IT DOES HAPPEN WAY MORE OFTEN THAN NOT. AND I'M AFRAID FOR MY SAFETY & THE SAFETY OF MY PASSENGERS. WHAT IF THE AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY TO HELP SAVE ANYONE? I HAVE READ OTHER CUSTOMERS COMPLAINING OF THIS EXACT SAME THING HAPPENING WITH THEIR VEHILCES, YET THERE IS NO RECALL? SUCH AS NHTSA ID # 11395069 INCIDENT DATE 01-31-2021 PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS, AND PLEASE ADVISE OF SOLUTION - RESOLUTION

NHTSA ODI 11405767

Mar 25, 2021AirbagsEngineVisibility & wipers

THE AIRBAG LIGHT DON'T GO OFF AT ALL UPON DRIVING WHEN ACCELERATING THE ENGINE JERKS VERY BADLY LIKE THERE IS SOME POWER LOST GOING IN WITH THE ENGINE I HAVE TO PRESS HARD FOR ACCELERATION THEN IT DRIVES SMOOTH THEN THE CAR SHUTS OFF ON MY AN MY HUSBAND FROM TRAVELING AN WHEN RAINING THE WIPERS GET STUCK AN MOVES LIKE A ROBOT SO WE HAVE TO PULL OVER BECAUSE WE CAN'T SEE DUE TO ELECTRIC PROBLEMS WITH THE WIPER AN THIS ISN'T SAFE AT ALL FOR NOBODY CAR STALLING OUT PLUS WIPERS GET STUCK AN THE MOVE LIKE A ROBOT NOT SAFE

NHTSA ODI 11404906

Mar 24, 2021Airbags

AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT COMES ON, TURNS OFF AT RANDOM, TURNS BACK ON AGAIN. REPEATS CYCLE WHILE DRIVING FOR ENTIRE DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI 11404716

Feb 25, 2021Airbags

THE AIRBAG LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF MAKING A DINGING NOISE. THERE IS RECALLS FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE THE SAME AS MINE YET FOR SOME REASON MINE IS NOT RECALLED. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME THAT I START THE CAR AND CONTINUES WHILE I AM DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI 11397874

Feb 7, 2021AirbagsDriver assistanceCrash1 injury

ON JANUARY 31,2021, I WAS DRIVING HOME IN THE RAIN ON INTERSTATE 40. I HYDROPLANED AND LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR. I WAS DRIVING 55 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I WA SIN THE FAR RIGHT LANE AND I SPUN OUT ACROSS THE HIGHWAY AND I CRASHED INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN AT FULL SPEED. MY AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. I HAVE MANY BRUISED ON MY CHEST, HIPS, LEGS, ARMS AND TORSO FROM THE IMPACT, AS WELL AS WHIPLASH IN MY NECK AND BACK.

NHTSA ODI 11395069

Jan 20, 2021AirbagsBrakesEngine

CAR STARTED RUNNING HOT NO LIGHTS ON. FAN STOPPED WORKING. ALSO REPLACE BREAK PARTS AND STILL A BREAK PROBLEM. THEN AIR BAG HAS A RECALL FOUND OUT AT DEALER SHIP AFTER PURCHASE AND THEY REFUSED TO FIX. I WAS DRIVING WHEN VEHICLE RAN HOT NOW STUCK ON SIDE OF ROAD

NHTSA ODI 11389052

Jan 15, 2021Electrical systemAirbags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 DODGE AVENGER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS WITH THE SECURITY LIGHT FLASHING ON THE DASHBOARD. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE TIPM WAS DEFECTIVE. THE FAILURE WAS LINKED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 13V282000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CONTACT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA FOR ASSISTANCE. SINCE THE FAILURE, THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO FIELDS CHRYSLER JEEP DODGE SANFORD (750 TOWNE CENTER BLVD, SANFORD, FL 32771) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE TIPM AND REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 78,000.

NHTSA ODI 11388284

Nov 11, 2020Airbags

I I WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT OF A GROCERY STORE WHEN THE ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT EXPLODED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HEAD REST. MY VEHICLE WAS NOT MOVING AND THERE WAS NO CONTACT WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE OR OBJECT. I TOOK MY VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED YOU CAN NOT EVEN ORDER PARTS TO HAVE THIS FIXED UNTIL 05/01/2021. HE STATED HE WOULD TRY TO CLOSE IT BUT BECAUSE IT IS MADE WITH CHEAP PLASTIC IT WAS PROBABLY BROKE.

NHTSA ODI 11374189

Nov 1, 2020AirbagsSeats

DRIVER HEADREST DEPLOYED WHEN NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED. VERY FRUSTRATED BECAUSE NECK IS STARTING TO HURT WHEN DRIVING BECAUSE THE HEADREST IS FORWARD BUT 50%. THIS HAPPENED 1 MONTH AGO, 10/01/2020. VEHICLE WAS PARKED, NOT OCCUPIED.

NHTSA ODI 11372528

Sep 25, 2020AirbagsBrakesEngine

ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING BRAKES LOCKED STEERING LOCKED VEHICLE NO START

NHTSA ODI 11361126

Sep 24, 2020Transmission & drivetrainAirbagsEngine

PASSENGER HEADREST AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE DRIVING ENGINE STALLS WHILE DRIVING LOST STEERING BRAKE LOCKS LOSS OF POWER VEHICLE WOULD NOT START

NHTSA ODI 11360854

Sep 24, 2020AirbagsEngine

DEPLOYED AIRBAG LOSS OF POWER ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING BRAKES LOCK STEERING LOCK NO START

NHTSA ODI 11360996

Sep 10, 2020AirbagsSeats

PASSENGER HEADREST EXPLODED WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT NO DAMAGE FROM OTHER VEHICLES OR DAMAGE FROM OUTSIDE

NHTSA ODI 11354318

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Working with the data? Download all 547 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 28, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2013 Dodge Avenger verdict →